News
Meet Rhea Mertes, our new SHOC researcher!
Rhea Mertes obtained a Master’s degree in History at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) in 2025. During these studies, she developed a particular interest in social mobility in the late middle ages.Noémi Tomaszynski joins SHOC as a Talent for Research Student!
Noémi began her studies in History at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) in 2022. Her academic interests include socio-economic and migration history, with a particular focus on the Middle Ages.New article by SHOC member Bas Spliet and Anne E. C. McCants
In a new article in Economic History Review , Centre for Urban History and SHOC researcher Bas Spliet and Anne McCants measure the cost of the early modern consumer revolution.Bob Pierik joins SHOC!
As of 1 September, Bob Pierik will join VUB and the SHOC research group as an assistant professor of early modern history. Bob's research focuses on the history of everyday life and urban space.New article by SHOC member Wout Saelens
Smoky, dirty, unhealthy. That is how peat and coal were long perceived in the early modern period. So why did households start bringing them home, just as ideals of cleanliness and health were gaining ground?Daan Huysman joins SHOC as a TVO student!
From September 2025, Daan Huysman will be part of SHOC as a TVO student. Daan started his studies in History at the VUB (Vrije Universiteit Brussel) in 2023.Conference Call for Papers- 'Studying Non-Elites in the Medieval Caucasus'
It is with great pleasure that we announce the Call for Papers for the First International Conference of the Medieval Caucasus Network, entitled 'Studying Non-Elites in the Medieval Caucasus'. This will take place at Vrije Universiteit Brussel in Brussels, Belgium, on March 13th-14th 2026.New article by SHOC member Anna Derhaeg and Kaat Wils (University of Leuven)
SHOC member Anna Derhaeg and co-author Kaat Wils (University of Leuven) have published a new article, based on Anna's Master's thesis.Call for Papers: Questionnaires in the History of Health and Medicine
Call for Papers Questionnaires in the History of Health and Medicine International Workshop 19-20 February 2026, Vrije Universiteit Brussel Deadline for abstract submission: 15 September 2025 We are delighted to announce a call for papers for a workshop focused on the historical...REINOUT VANDER HULST JOINS SHOC!
As from 1 July, SHOC has a new colleague! Reinout Vander Hulst will be working closely together with Benoît Henriet on colonial history. Welcome to the team, Reinout!SHOC member Robin Rose Southard successfully defends PhD dissertation
On 23 June, SHOC had the honour of attending Rose Southard's PhD defence, "Biting the hand that Feeds. Contesting the Food Guilds in 18th-century Brussels". A successful - and engaging! defence , followed by a lovely reception: the ideal recipe for the start of a new chapter!New article by SHOC member Anne Winter and Thijs Lambrecht
A new article by SHOC member Anne Winter and Thijs Lambrecht was recently published in Rural History. In their publication " Conspicuous charity and agrarian capitalism: Rural poor relief in Western Flanders c.First scientific output of FORAGENCY, by SHOC member Etienne Gontard
Research group SHOC and the FORAGENCY team are proud to announce the first FORAGENCY publication by researcher Etienne Gontard, via this link. In, “Weaving the Future: Duiker Hides Trade and the Aka in Colonial Central Africa” , Etienne Gontard studies how, between 1920 and 1950, duikers were...New publication by SHOC member Bart Lambert and Joshua Ravenhill
Want to know why 'Fleming' was considered an insult in late medieval England and 'Dutchman' was not? Bart Lambert and Josh Ravenhill published an article about nationality-related slurs in 15th-century London in the Vierteljahrschrift für Sozial- und Wirtschaftsgeschichte.New article by SHOC member Adam Hall
How did medieval rulers and merchants use taxes and reprisals to signal resolve in trade disputes? This new article by SHOC memner Adam Hall explores conflicts involving foreign merchants in Bruges, offering insights into brinkmanship and diplomacy.New article by SHOC member Bart Lambert and Louis Sicking
Trade wars are not just a modern phenomenon. In their new article in Continuity & Change, Bart Lambert and Louis Sicking show how, between 1384 and 1430, the counts of Holland and Zeeland tried to lure merchants away from neighbouring Flanders.SHOC member Bart Lambert on genetic diversity and DNA in Sint-Truiden
More on genetic diversity and the plague in medieval Sint-Truiden, including commentary by Bart Lambert, in De Standaard ! https://www.standaard.be/.../vlaams-dna-was.../67847129.htmlSHOC visits expo De Poorten
Friday, 9 May, a SHOC delegation visited the Poorten exhibition at STAM in Ghent. The expo shows how dynamic and colourful city districts arose around (now often disappeared) city gates. We were given a tailor-made guided tour by Tina de Gendt , curator of the exhibition.JOB ALERT: new opportunities to come and work with us
The LOCO project is looking for 2 PhDs and 2 Post-docs in (bio-)archaeology, history, geochemistry, and digital humanities. This joint project between VUB, KUL, and UGent looks at the mobility of people, materials, and ideas in the Low Countries. Apply before 30 April 2025.
Events
- Practical info25/09/2025 - 17:00 - 25/09/2025 - 20:00
Book launch: The North Caucasian Kingdom of Alania, 829-1240 (by SHOC member John Latham-Sprinkle)